Popliteal Artery Pseudoaneurysm Associated with Osteochondroma / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Osteochondromas, or exostoses, are the most frequent benign bone tumors. Although many osteochondromas are asymptomatic, they are sometimes responsible for vascular complications, most often associated with the popliteal artery. Here, we present a rare case of pseudo-aneurysm of the popliteal artery secondary to an osteochondroma of the femur in a 48-year-old woman. During surgery, a pseudo-aneurysm developed from a 1-mm hole in the anterior aspect of the popliteal artery, which was closely related to the protrusion of the femoral osteochondroma. The surface of the osteochondroma was quite sharp, rigid and firm. It was removed completely through the lumen of the aneurysm. A short segment of the popliteal artery, including the hole, was resected with an end-to-end anastomosis. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient recovered completely. The precise pathogenesis of pseudo-aneurysmal formation is still unknown. We speculate that local compression of the popliteal artery by a spiky osteochondroma can stretch the vessel and lead to rupture of the artery by continuous friction. Considering the potential risk of this vascular complication, shonld be closely monitered patients with osteochondroma of the femur.